HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 985, 15 October 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. special powers and contracts bill, thb broomhall contuact. The House went into committee on the Special Powers aud Contracts Bill. The Attorney-General proposed to insert a new clause to enable the Government to carry out an agreement with Mr Broomhall, for the sale to him of land at Te A.roha. He strongly denounced the sale to Mr Broomhall, stating that thousands of miners had left the Thames because they Gould not obtain laud, although they were prepared to pay foar times as much as Mr Brooraball had undertaken to pay. The Att.rneyGeneral contended that the credit of the colony was at stake, and the' bargain could not be repudiated. The Premier strongly opposed the new clause which, he said, would inflict injustice on the people of the Thames. He urged the committee te reject the clause moved by the Attorney-General. Mr Pyke denounced the schedule as containing a succession ofswiudles, for which he was called to order by the Chairman. He concurred with the remarks of the Premier, and could not understand the AttorneyGeneral acting against the advice of his chief, or how the Government of the country could be satisfactorily conducted under such circumstances. Mr Murray- Ay nsley said ho would support the view of the AttorneyGeneral. Mr Rees said he believed the Attorney-General had not carefully considered the question which was exceptional. The opening of this 50,000 acres would be an inestimable boon to the people of Auckland. The Waste Lands Board had aold the land without legal authority, — they might just as well have sold land at Waimate, The thing was a fraud on the face of it. The Attorney-General referred to the power given to the Waste Lauds Act. The Crown had not completed its title when it sold to Mr Broomhall ; but was it to be repudiated, now that it was completed ? Major Atkinson said it was almost inconceivable that the Government should differ ov a matter which the Attorney-General held to be one of public morality. The House was distinctly aware when it authorised the sale that the land had not been finally acquired by the Lrovernment from the natives. He contended that the public faith was pledged to the fulfillment of the contract, bu<if that would injure settlement at the Thames, the straightforward course would be to empower the Agent-General to negotiate with Mr Broomhall to re-purchase the land, paying him fair compensation. Mr Whi taker > contended that when the Act was passed by the Assembly, Mr Broomhall was unaware what land he would obtain. The hou. member for Wa'kato went on to suggest that, the written contract should be examined before the House finally provided for the ratification of the bargain. The Minister of works said he believed no action had been taken m England by Mr Broomhall. Mr Montgomery suggested that all correspondence m coanection with the allied contract be printed and circulated, and pending this that the clause be postponed. Mr Moss said that Mfe* Broorahall had come to Auckland m the guise of a plulaatrophist, and not as a speculator. He made philanthropic speeches, bub had a remai'kably good eye for laud. Ho considered it would be wrong to puss the clause before negotiating with Mr Brootahall as to compensation. The affair should be left by the House m its present form, (ponding steps to bo fcako.u to ascertain the exact terms of the bargain. 'When the House resumed, at halfpa at ten, aft^r tho adjourutttDjit, >

The A j . ey-GreueL\il aeUo<l leav to wtuliww the amendment to! ratify the contract. Tne Naciye Minister said W\ & negotiations for Tv Aroha blocV lever had any actual existence until the Oouft sat ut the Th-mw3. Tlio WiiKte La nds Board of AucklaudsoW ! Mr Broomhall land over which th o Grown possessed not a suadow of title, and they might as well havp sold private esiate. In 1874, the Provincial Government of Auckland made distinct promises that the land should be reserved for Thames settlers, and the General Government subsequently made similar promises. There was no evidence tha Mr Broomhall had taken any steps to confirm the contract, but he had endeavored to form a speculative company, from wbom he was to receive £5000. He (Mr Sheehan) had l-.oked into fc|, e contract m 1876, aud found that it was wholly illegal. He would not be a party to a breach of any fair contract, but, on the other hand, either contracting party must shevv that it intends to adhere to the conditions to which it was bound ; but nothing had been done by Mr Broomhall to shew that he intended to carry out his part of the agreement m a bonafide manner. He had not even sent anyone to spy out the goodness of the land, aud take bick the Scriptural bunches of grape--. He would advise that theamuuduicnt be withdrawn, and a special Bill be introduced, and if it were iound that Mr Broomhall had been riding a waiting race for merely speculative purposes, Government should refund him whatever money he had paid, with fair expenses, and keep the land. It whs absurd to send out of the colony for settlers when residents were leaving the colony because they could not- obtain laud. He believed there was not a single Broomhtvll settler representing the company. The clause was withdrawn.